[C. Edmund Wright]

good move...this is a cancer.....

[Eric Pode of Croydon]

OK, all of you who are constantly whingeing about “liberaltarians” and “Paultards” -— let’s see Cruz and Lee and Enzi and Inhofe sign on to sponsor this bill.

[grobdriver]

In addition, state agencies routinely use federal asset forfeiture laws; ignoring state regulations to confiscate and receive financial proceeds from forfeited property.

Hmmm... didn't Holder recently (and uncharacteristically) terminate this kind of thievery?

[arthurus]

agencies may take property suspected of involvement in crime without ever charging, let alone convicting, the property owner.

Actually they can take property at will, simply say that they suspect said property to have been involved in unspecified something illegal. All cash is designated as "suspected of being involved in criminal activity" and can be seized at will. Volusia County Florida finances much of its LE with seizures of cash from random highway stops of newish Lincolns with Yankee tags. Some New Yorkers still put all their assets into cash then drive down to Florida to buy a Condo to retire.

[henkster]

I did not read the article because

1) It’s in the Compost and I refuse to read that rag, and

2) I’m a FReeper

But, having said that, there are some important changes that need to be made in asset forfeiture laws, some of which may be in the proposed legislation:

1) No property may be forfeited without the criminal conviction of the legal owner of the property;

2) Property seized and returned to the owner, not having been subject to forfeiture, must also be accompanied by payment to the owner of costs of depreciation and/or interest by the government as a result of their taking of the property;

3) 100% of the proceeds of any forfeiture must be placed in the state or federal general fund; local agencies cannot use this as a means of “funding” their operations. And that includes the attorney’s fees in prosecuting these actions. (In most states, the prosecutor does not do forfeiture actions. They contract it to private attorneys, who use the “costs of collection” as a means of lining their pockets.)

There are times that forfeiture is appropriate, but these would give incentives to use it properly.

[thackney]

Why did you post a 6 month old article with today’s date?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

A good law. Seizure laws are simply unjust, plus lead to police corruption. Sequestering suspected property would be acceptable as long as it was returned upon acquittal. In addition, the state must prove the property was used in committing a crime.

[Georgia Girl 2]

Good its unconstitutional and I have opposed it for 25 years or more. It should have been stopped a long time ago.

[GeronL]

do not reform it, outlaw it